News & Events Event Reports

North America Regional Hub: Building and Maintaining Cohesive and Connected Cities in Times of Crisis and Division

Publication Date:

05/08/2026

Content Type:

Event Reports

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community safetyMayoral LeadershipPittsburghSocial CohesionUS Mayoral Retreat

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This report provides a summary of discussions during the event and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Strong Cities Network Management Unit, Strong Cities members, event sponsors or participants.

Event Details

Description: A U.S. Mayoral Retreat held in partnership with the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the City of Pittsburgh, bringing together more than 40 mayors, city officials, government leaders and community organisations to explore how cities can respond to rising threats, hate and harassment while strengthening trust and social cohesion. Discussions focused on the role of mayors as connectors and communicators and the importance of whole-of-city partnerships in building safer, more cohesive and connected communities.

Where & When: 5 – 7 August 2026, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Cities Represented

• USA: Allegheny County (PA), Athens (OH), Bellevue (PA), Broadview (IL), Butler (PA), Cayce (SC), Colorado Springs (CO), Columbus (OH), Fairbanks (AK), Farmington Hills (MI), Forest Hills (PA), Highland Park (IL), Lewisburg (PA), Minneapolis (MN), North Braddock (PA), Philadelphia (PA), Pittsburgh (PA), Newark (NJ), San Diego (CA), Seattle (WA). 

Community‑Based and NGO Participants 

• Eradicate Hate   
• Pennsylvania Community Foundation Association  
• The Pittsburgh Foundation  
• Latino Community Center  
• 10.27 Healing Partnership  
• Jewish Family Community Services  
• The Hear Foundation  
• Just Mediation Pittsburgh  
• Mediators Beyond Borders International  
• Center for Applied Research on Targeted Violence (Carnegie Mellon University & University of Pittsburgh)  
• Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association  
• Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network  
• The Tree of Life  

Key Takeaways

For Mayors & Cities 

• Support for women elected officials must be strengthened
  Threats and harassment against elected officials, especially women, are rising and are often personalised, identity‑based, and persistent. These harms affect leaders, their families and their staff and undermine effective governance. Cities need practical tools and coordinated mechanisms to respond. 
   
• City‑led collaboration improves community safety
  Multidisciplinary partnerships between police, social workers, mental health professionals and community organisations strengthen violence prevention, improve public safety outcomes and build trust. 

For Community Foundations and other Funders 

• Address gaps created by federal and state funding shortfalls
  Foundations can leverage financial, social and reputational capital to help communities respond to shifting policy landscapes and funding deficits. 
• Support extends beyond grantmaking
  Foundations can identify local needs, convene partners, influence policy and mobilise donors to respond flexibly to emerging challenges. 
• Engage local institutions strategically
  Partnerships should prioritise relationship‑building, shared problem identification and collaborative solutions rather than transactional approaches. 

For Community‑Based and other Non‑Governmental Organisations 

• Leverage faith communities as essential partners
  They remain underutilised but powerful actors in prevention and response efforts. 
• Build relationships before crises occur
  Pre‑established collaboration enables faster, more coordinated action during emergencies. 

For Strong Cities 

• Expand peer learning opportunities
  Continue facilitating in‑person and virtual exchanges that allow mayors and city officials to discuss emerging trends in hate, share good practices and support one another. 
• Provide tools to safeguard women leaders
  Strong Cities is advancing a global initiative through the Women’s Caucus to address gender‑based hate and harassment targeting women mayors and local leaders. A new toolkit will be launched at the Strong Cities Seventh Global Summit in Rabat in January 2027. 
• Develop resources for newly elected officials
  Onboarding materials could include guidance on community trust‑building, crisis management and cross‑sector collaboration, which could be especially valuable for smaller municipalities with limited capacity. 

Next Steps

• Strong Cities will continue expanding opportunities for city‑to‑city learning focused on belonging and social cohesion. Upcoming activities will prioritise practical, city‑led solutions to hate, incivility and division. 
• The Strong Cities Resource Hub will remain the central platform for guides, tools and case studies on violence prevention and social cohesion, serving as a living library to help local leaders translate ideas into action and adapt strategies to their communities. 

Donors & Partners

Additional Resources 

• A Guide for Mayors: Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism & Polarisation, Strong Cities Network 
• A Guide For City-Led Response, Strong Cities Network 
• A Guide For Cities: Preventing Hate, Extremism & Polarisation, Strong Cities Network 
• Women Mayors on the Frontlines: Gender-Based Hate, Harassment and Democratic Resilience in European Cities, Strong Cities Network, June 2026 
• Addressing Anti-Government Hate and Harassment in Times of Crisis — A Federation of Canadian Municipalities Workshop, Strong Cities Network, June 2026 
• Women Mayors on the Frontlines: Closing the Gaps in Responses to Gender-Based Hate, Harassment and Intimidation, Strong Cities Network, June 2026 
• Cross-Sector Collaboration in Secondary Violence Prevention: A Guide for US Cities, Law Enforcement, and Mental Health/Social Work Providers, Strong Cities Network, June 2026 
• Collaborating for Cohesion — Optimising Faith-Civic Partnerships, Strong Cities Network, May 2026 
• Safeguarding and Elevating Women Local Leaders in Building and Maintaining Strong Cities, Strong Cities Network, April 2026 
• City Leadership in Partnering with Local Communities for Social Cohesion: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Local Governments, Strong Cities Network, updated February 2026 
• City Leadership in the Face of Rising Incivility and Polarisation: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Local Governments, Strong Cities Network, December 2025 
• Global Crises, Local Impacts: Strengthening Community Safety Through Collaboration Between Local Police, Social Workers and Healthcare Professionals, Strong Cities Network, November 2025 
• Countering Hate Speech in Times of Crisis: Considerations for Mayors and Local Governments, Strong Cities Network, December 2024 
• City-Led Prevention of Hate, Extremism and Polarisation: Leveraging Local Youth Councils, Strong Cities Network, December 2024 
• Global Crises, Local Impacts: Key Findings & Recommendations to Date, Strong Cities Network, Strong Cities Network, April 2024 
• Managing Migration: City-Led Approaches for Being an Inclusive, Welcoming and Socially-Cohesive City, Strong Cities Network, December 2024 
• Creating Safe, Cohesive and Resilient Cities through Urban Planning & Design: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Local Governments, Strong Cities Network, December 2024 

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